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Rabbi Marcus – Shoftim

Posted by Raquel Amit on August 24, 2014

The name ‘Shoftim’ — meaning judges is taken from the opening word of this week’s Sidra. As our ancestors were about to enter the land of Israel, Moshe instructed them to establish a system of courts and judges so that justice would prevail in the land. The obvious prohibition of bribery is stressed so that justice would be administered fairly and honestly.

The Sidra contains further instruction from Moshe regarding the prohibition of idolatry, the laws regarding a Jewish king, the place of the Navi- Prophet, the responsibilities of the Cohanim, laws concerning crime, warfare and finally laws regarding unsolved murders.